Volcano’s Powerful Rolling Launch | Coaster Moments

Volcano: The Blast Coaster’s a pretty memorable coaster for a number of reasons. It’s an inverted launch coaster built in a themed mountain at Kings Dominion. The majority of launch coasters catapult their trains from a dead stop, Volcano’s launch happens on the move. To me, the rolling launch added to the intense level of suspense as you wait to be hurled to warp speed.

On Volcano, riders board the train and get buckled in. The train is slowly dispatched and takes an immediate left. As they finish the left turn a long tunnel lies ahead. The train just creeps along as the riders wonder when they’ll be launched. You see the LIMs overhead and know that it’ll happen any second and then it happens. The acceleration is so raw and powerful. It’s like there’s an angry machine gradually pushing you faster and faster. The launch is nowhere near as immediate as Hypersonic XLC’s was. It’s a bit more gradual, but still very exhilarating.